8 of the best places to live in West London

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Looking for the best places to live in West London? No problem. We're going to take you through what's great about this area of the capital; extracting the pick of the bunch. ‘West is best’ goes the old London saying, and there are certainly more than enough reasons to believe this when choosing where to live in London.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a Russian Oligarch or David Beckham to afford West London rent if you choose your area carefully. Broadly speaking, the boroughs surrounding central London (normally in Zone 1) are the most expensive - this includes Kensington, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove areas, Knightsbridge and Chelsea. But if you venture just a mile (or a tube stop or two) further west, you could settle down in Shepherds Bush, Ealing or Fulham for a lot less rent and cheaper council tax too.

8 (updated to 10) of the best places to live in West London

Kensington and Chelsea

Now made infamous by the UK reality TV program, Made in Chelsea, this area is classic West London at its finest. Home to Sloane Square and the original Sloane Rangers, Kensington and Chelsea is full of posh restaurants, designer shops and lovely classic architecture.

The King’s Road is normally considered to be centre of the action, with busy cafes during the day and bars filled with young socialites at night. Transport links are not great, however, with Sloane Square Station only connecting onto the Circle and District lines, making commuting North and South a little tricky. Fortunately, the area is so lovely you probably won’t want to leave!

South Kensington is a little slice of Paris in the heart of West London. The French Embassy and the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle are both located here, which has led to a large francophone community and an abundance of French bookshops, bakeries and restaurants.

The SW7 postcode is also home to world-class museums such as the National History Museum and the V&A, so you will never be short of culture. Served by the Circle, Piccadilly and District lines, it is also very easy to commute to other areas from here, with Piccadilly Circus just 8 minutes away.

Notting Hill, one of the most beautiful places in London, conjures two conflicting images in the minds of most renters. Firstly, Hugh Grant bumbling around a bookshop in the film, Notting Hill, and secondly, the raucous Notting Hill Carnival, one of the best events of the summer which is full of colourful outfits and Caribbean parades.

By combining the class and culture of West London with a bohemian outlook and the markets of Portobello Road, it is no wonder that renting in this coveted area costs 89% more than the London average. With Central, Circle and District lines all connecting through Notting Hill, travelling is also a breeze from here – Oxford Circus is less than 10 minutes away.

Tucked away in the river bend a mile west of Chelsea, easily making it one of the best places to live in West London, this pretty green area is generally considered to be the more affordable version of its expensive neighbour (and in fact where the cast of Made in Chelsea actually live!).

While still very close to the action of Sloane Square and the Kings Road, Fulham has its own lovely cafes, delis and parks to offer, particularly in the form of Parsons Green.

If you are a football fan then both Chelsea and Fulham clubs are located nearby, although the downside of this is the traffic on match days.

With plenty of buses but only the District tube line, transport links for commuting are not ideal from here, so if you work in the East or North of London you could find yourself with a rather long journey.

Located just a mile west of Notting Hill, Shepherd’s Bush is considered to be the Hill’s cheaper, more eclectic cousin. It can seem a little rough around the edges in parts, but at a third less in price it’s not too much of a compromise.

With a diverse local culture, plenty of markets and the enormous Westfield shopping centre complex, Shepherd's Bush has a lot to offer.

Transport links are also fantastic – with the Overground, plenty of buses and tube stations connecting the Central, Circle and Hammersmith lines, you can be at Oxford Circus in 11 minutes, and Liverpool Street in a speedy 22 minutes.

Arguably West London’s transport and employment hub, Hammersmith is busy, buzzing and multicultural. Full of shops, restaurants, bars and renowned music venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo and Lyric theatre, the popularity of this thriving area is reflected in the rental costs, although much more affordable than Notting Hill, South Kensington and Chelsea.

The riverside location also allows for lovely weekend strolls down to Chiswick, giving you the best of both worlds. Transport couldn’t be better, with District, Piccadilly, Circle and Hammersmith lines, along with a huge bus station, making Hammersmith one of the best spots to commute from in West London.

Ealing

Photo credit: www.accorhotels.com

This leafy Zone 3 suburb is popular with both families and young professional for its affordable rents, respected state schools and expansive green spaces. Proclaiming itself 'Queen of the Suburbs’ in 1880, it now offers a cosmopolitan mix of cafes, shops, pubs and an emerging artistic scene. Nowhere in London embodies a mix of the old and new quite like Ealing does.

With the largest community theatre in Europe and a thriving craft market, Ealing offers the bohemian scene of Notting Hill at half the price, while the District and Central lines mean that Central London is still only just over 20 minutes away.

Affluent families flock to riverside Chiswick for the safe atmosphere and slow pace of life, coupled with good connections to central London for when you want to get back into the action. The are a is heaven for foodies, with an abundance of independent delis, restaurants and cafes, as well as plenty of green space to enjoy a picnic when it's sunny.

The local primary schools are top-notch, which has partly contributed to the steady rise in property prices here.

Chiswick also has its own tube station (on the district line), which is a little slower than most but will still get you to Central London in less than 30 minutes. For those looking a little further abroad, Heathrow Airport is just 20 minutes away - perfect for frequent flyers! Check our guide to Chiswick here!

Brentford

Brentford may have a TW postcode, but the area is very much considered a part of West London. Regeneration, coupled with lovely leafy streets, has made it particularly sought after by young families. However, a few new residential developments have also enhanced the appeal with young professionals.

A River Thames location affords a peaceful atmosphere, and prices are still slightly cheaper than nearby Ealing. Brentford has Overground and National Rail stations which offer straightforward services into central London, including direct stops to Waterloo in around half an hour.

Acton is another area which has seen plenty of regeneration over the last five years, with property prices only heading one direction. However, the W3 postcode still offers affordable housing. With the introduction of the Elizabeth Line (formally CrossRail) in the near future, the area is only going to increase in value.

There are still a host of travel options while you wait for Crossrail to role into town; Acton has its name on more stations than any other area in the UK. There’s Acton Town (Piccadilly Line), Acton Mainline, West Acton (Central Line), North Acton (Central Line), Acton Central and South Acton.

Vibing with the Rest of London

We love West London, and think that you will too. But if it's not your thing and you fancy yourself as more of an East, North or South Londoner, check out our area guides for some great places to live all over London.